Manager has banned us from using air con

[Steven5]

Hi,

a new manager has come to our store and has banned us from using the air con.

could I get your opinions guys on this please? Is this legal or not? What's the best approach to resolve this ridiculous step.

Thanks

[meellis]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

Well one of the simple things is to remember that a lot of people manage to work without air-con and we never used to have the luxury of it. The serious side though is there are temperatures laid out that the workplace should be so if the lack of air-con means the temperature isn't within those limits then they could be breaking some rules. Even though most people think A/C just cools in some situations it heats as well. At this time of year I would doubt if it is desperate for either so the only other issue is whether the A/C is leaning the air and making the store a pleasanter place to be and if the store is a shop and not a storage room then the environment inside is what draws the customers in or makes them leave, nobody wants to spend too much time in a stuffy, stale and smelly environment.

[Kati]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

Hi,

a new manager has come to our store and has banned us from using the air con.

could I get your opinions guys on this please? Is this legal or not? What's the best approach to resolve this ridiculous step.

Thanks

Have you been given a reason for the decision??

[Steven5]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

Well one of the simple things is to remember that a lot of people manage to work without air-con and we never used to have the luxury of it. The serious side though is there are temperatures laid out that the workplace should be so if the lack of air-con means the temperature isn't within those limits then they could be breaking some rules. Even though most people think A/C just cools in some situations it heats as well. At this time of year I would doubt if it is desperate for either so the only other issue is whether the A/C is leaning the air and making the store a pleasanter place to be and if the store is a shop and not a storage room then the environment inside is what draws the customers in or makes them leave, nobody wants to spend too much time in a stuffy, stale and smelly environment.

thanks for your reply

I'm not sure if there are temperatures laid out in the workplace but will have to look into that though. It's just as its a well known retail store that does get busy most of the time, customers would not want to shop in a stuffy,stale and smelly environment.

The manager is only banning us from using it to save on electric bill. She has put a yellow sticky note over the ac control stateing not to switch it on! They have even brown taped some light switches in the staff room to cut costs.

[Steven5]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

Have you been given a reason for the decision??

Thanks for your reply.

the reason is to cut costs on electric bill. They have even brown taped light switches so we can't turn them on in the staff room area.

they are getting rid of the cleaner so they are now pressuring us to do the cleaners duties aswell.

Can something be done to counter this?

[Kati]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

Thanks for your reply.

the reason is to cut costs on electric bill. They have even brown taped light switches so we can't turn them on in the staff room area.

they are getting rid of the cleaner so they are now pressuring us to do the cleaners duties aswell.

Can something be done to counter this?

It doesn't sound right to me ... do you have a complaints procedure in place??

[Steven5]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

It doesn't sound right to me ... do you have a complaints procedure in place??

There is a poster in the staff room that states "independent confidential reporting regarding:-

-fraud
-bribery
-unethical conduct
-breach of global code of conduct


or they have a grievances procedure through hr dept

im really thinking of giving a call to that number on the poster about this matter, as I think there hr team will favour more so there mangers then myself.

[leclerc]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

It doesn't sound right to me ... do you have a complaints procedure in place??

I am gonna potentially disagree with you on the basis that some contracts might add the clause: "any other duties as the business requires them". I disagree solely with the issue of cleaning but not in respects to temperature which is important.

What duties are you expected to do? If it is cleaning toilets then that may well not be reasonable, if it is cleaning up after yourselves then that is a given. If it is emptying bins and hoovering then I can't see that as being room to complain.

However, if your contract specifically states your duties in finite language then clearly it's against the contract to do the cleaning.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

I'm not sure if there are temperatures laid out in the workplace but will have to look into that though. It's just as its a well known retail store that does get busy most of the time, customers would not want to shop in a stuffy,stale and smelly environment.

Not as such, however, you may want to look at this: http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/faq.htm#complaints

The manager is only banning us from using it to save on electric bill. She has put a yellow sticky note over the ac control stateing not to switch it on! They have even brown taped some light switches in the staff room to cut costs.

That is the most obvious reason for it. Having said that, Autumn starts tomorrow so I can't see this being a big deal for another 8 months or so.

It will be more of a worry if they don't let you use the heating in the winter!

[chaz301975]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

again flamming parrot hits the spot it come down to thermal discomofort and how many of you agee and are will to fight for it read the link and it may be come clearer

[Kati]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

I am gonna potentially disagree with you on the basis that some contracts might add the clause: "any other duties as the business requires them". I disagree solely with the issue of cleaning but not in respects to temperature which is important.

What duties are you expected to do? If it is cleaning toilets then that may well not be reasonable, if it is cleaning up after yourselves then that is a given. If it is emptying bins and hoovering then I can't see that as being room to complain.

However, if your contract specifically states your duties in finite language then clearly it's against the contract to do the cleaning.

The cleaning I could (personally) live with .... BUT taping over the light switches???

[Steven5]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

even with autumn starting tomorrow there are periods throughout the day when we are overwhelmed with a sudden surge of customers and it gets really stuffy and humid. obviously im not suggesting to put the ac on full blast but on a low to medium level when necessary......but the way the manager is coming across as if she doesn't wants us to even think of turning it on.

[Steven5]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

I am gonna potentially disagree with you on the basis that some contracts might add the clause: "any other duties as the business requires them". I disagree solely with the issue of cleaning but not in respects to temperature which is important.

What duties are you expected to do? If it is cleaning toilets then that may well not be reasonable, if it is cleaning up after yourselves then that is a given. If it is emptying bins and hoovering then I can't see that as being room to complain.

However, if your contract specifically states your duties in finite language then clearly it's against the contract to do the cleaning.

im sure ive seen in my contract "any other duties..." but shes suggesting as im mopping the floor she wants my to dry with a cloth aswell. she keeps on saying about all the changes thats how things are done in her previous store!

no one has any problems with general cleaning duties like emptying the bin,hoover, mop, etcc its just she wants us to them her way. i said we have had so many cleaners and i have never seen any of them dry the floor after mopping except they put does bright yellow warning signs that the floor is wet! this manager is just a major pain in the neck.

as she wants save more costs by getting rid of the cleaner soon, she is hinting to me she wants me to use the buffing machine to buff the floor. i have no experience or intentions of learning to use the buffer. she can stick her job up you know where!

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

im sure ive seen in my contract "any other duties..." but shes suggesting as im mopping the floor she wants my to dry with a cloth aswell. she keeps on saying about all the changes thats how things are done in her previous store!

no one has any problems with general cleaning duties like emptying the bin,hoover, mop, etcc its just she wants us to them her way. i said we have had so many cleaners and i have never seen any of them dry the floor after mopping except they put does bright yellow warning signs that the floor is wet! this manager is just a major pain in the neck.

as she wants save more costs by getting rid of the cleaner soon, she is hinting to me she wants me to use the buffing machine to buff the floor. i have no experience or intentions of learning to use the buffer. she can stick her job up you know where!

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

That's the spirit! She sounds like a mean !

[meellis]

Re: Manager has banned us from using air con

As Cameron and his cronies have said "we are all in this together" so makes sure she knows how to use the buffing machine too. She obviously wants to mark her territory and make an impression but as with the rules on workplace temperatures there are also rules on the lighting values if I am not mistaken.